Electric igniter for explosive-engines.



PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

APPLIUATIGN ILED 11113.15, 190i,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 NOBEL.

No. 772,235. PATENTED GCT. 1l, 904.

W. B. HAYDBN.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FUR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLIOATXON LD FBB.IE.1904A N0 HODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,WM/z). f.. QM/@20.52 ci? Patented October 11, 1904.

WILLIAM B. HAYDEN,

on NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC lGNiTER FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGiNES.

SPECIAFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,235, dated October 11, 1904.

Application filed February 15, 1904. Serial No. 193,620. (No model.)

To all whom it may. concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Harman, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful 1mprovemen ts in Electric Igniters for Explosive- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toelectric igniters for xplosiveengines; and the'invention aims to provide an igniting device for varying the time of igniting the explosive charge during the operation of the engine. Consequently by such means the lead on the engine can be readily varied when occasion requires.

The invention further aims to provide an igniting device with an adjustable controlling means for varying the"tirne of igniting the explosive charge in the running of the engine. Consequently by 'such means the lead on the engine can be readily varied when occasion requires.

The invention further aims to provide an igniting device for explosive-engines which shall be simple in its construction and arrangement, readily adjustable for varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge, conse-l quently varying the lead of the engine when occasion requires, durable, efficient, and practicable in its use and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

Wr ith the foregoingand other objects in view the invention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of a double-cylinder explosive-engine with the igniting device employed in connection therewith. Flo'. 2 is a sectional plan of the engine-cylinders, showing the arrangement of the controlling device for the sparking-plugs; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of theigniting device as applied to adouble-cylinder explosive-engine.

The drawings illustrate the adaptation of the igniting device as applied to a vertical double-cylinder explosive-engine; but it is evident that the device can be employed in connection with a single, quadruple, or other form of explosive-engine, whether it be oi the vertical or horizontal type.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes the engine-shaft; 2, the cranks; 3, the piston-rods;` 4, the pistons, and 5 and v5' the cylinders, the foregoing parts being of any preferred construction, and., as before stated, the engine may either be a vertical or a horizontal one; but a vertical one is shown. The parts just mentioned are mounted upon a suitable bed.

The igniting device comprises a sparking plug or plugs, a circuit making and breaking device or devices, a controlling device or devices for the sparking plug, and the circuit or wire connections communicating with a source of electrical energy and a vibrating induction-coil. iVhen the igniter is employed for a single-cylinder engine, the controlling device comprises a pair of contact-plates and a single adjusting means therefor. For a double-cylinder engine the controlling device comprises two pairs oi' contact-plates and a single adjusting means therefor. For a triplecylinder engine the controlling device comprises three pairs of contact-plates and a duplex adjusting means therefor, or, in other words, for every cylinder of the engine a pair of contact-plates is employed and the necessary adjusting means therefor. iVhen the igniter is used for a single-cylinder engine, but one circuit making and breaking device is employed. When employed for a double cylinder engine, but one circuit making Aand breaking device is used. When employed for a triple oraqnad ruple cylinder engine, two circuit making and breaking devices are employed, or, in other words. for every pair of cylinders embodied in the engine an additional circuit making and breaking device is employed.

As before stated, the device is shown as applied to a double-cylinder engine, and under such circumstances two sparking plugs are employed-asparking plug foreach cylinder. The sparking plugs are designated by the reference character 6 and are of the ordinary construction for obtaining a jump-spark. A plug 6 is adapted to extend into one end of its respective cylinder and is not insulated therefrom, with the exceptio nthat in sparking plugs of this character they are provided with an insulated electrode extending therethrough.

As before stated, as the igniter is shown used in connection witha double-cylinder engine, but one circuit making and breaking device is employed, and said device consists of a reciprocatingr rod 7, operating through suitable guide-keepers connected to one of the cylinders 5 or 5', as the ease may be, and the said rod 7 is connected through the medium of an eccentric 8 with the engine-shaft 1. The rod 7 carries a supporting-arm 9, projecting laterally from each side thereof and which is construeted of an insulating material,and through each end of the arm 9 extends a connectingpost, (designated by the reference characters 1() and 11, respectively.) One end of the post 10 carries acircuit making and breaking block 12,and one end of the post 11 carries a circuit making and breaking block 13. The manner in which'the blocks 12 and 13 make and break the circuit will be hereinafter referred to. The operation of the rod 7 through the medium of the eccentric 8 is such that the rod will be reciprocated to move the circuit making and breaking blocks 12 and 13 to their operative position when the engine is at dead-center or in advance thereof, as the case may be.

As before Stated, the igniter is shown as applied to a double-cylinder engine, and under such circumstances the controlling device for the sparking plugs comprises two pairs of superposed yielding contact-plates, one pair designated by the reference characters 14 and 15 and the other pair by the reference characters 16 and 17. The contact-plates 14 15 are the upper pair of plates, and the contact-plates 16 and 17 the lower pair. The plates 14 16 are what may be termed contact-plates for the primary circuit, and the plates 15 17 are what may be termed contact-plates for the induced or sparking eircuit. The two pairs of plates are connected together near one end by an insulated coupling means 18, which also acts as a spacer' for retaining the pairs of plates a suitable distance apart. The insulation of the coupling means 18 is such as to4 insulate one pair of plates from the other pair of plates, as well as to insulate each plate of each pair of plates from each other and as well as insulate the plates 15 and 17 from the cylinder 5 or 5', to which the said coupling means is secured; but said coupling means does not insulate the plates 14 and 1G from the cylinder 5 or 5', to which said coupling means 18 is secured, and by such construction no interruption is had to the primary circuit, which shall. be hereinafter referred to, when said circuit is made. The coupling means 18 is in the form of a bracket` but may be of any suitable construction. Each of the plates 15 and 17 is provided at one end with a binding-screw 19 for a leading-in wire 19 and 19'), respectively. The wire 19 extends to the sparking plug 6 in the cylinder 5, and the wire 19" extends to the sparking plug 6 in the cylinder 5'. The controlling device for the sparking plugs 6 is provided with a means for adjusting the position of the said pairs of plates, and for this purpose there is interposed between the two pairs of plates a cam 20, of insulating material, and which when rotated in one direction will cause the moving away of one pair of plates from the other and when rotated in an opposite direction will allow the plates of one pair to move toward the plates of the other pair. The function of such an arrangement will be hereinafter referred to. The cam 20 is provided with a handle 21, carryinga pointer 22, cooperating with a scale 23 for indicating the desired lead of the engine, and said cam 20 may be supported in any suitable manner.

The circu it-wire connections forni what may be termed a "primary circuit and an induced circuit. The primary circuit cornprises a wire connection 24 from the generator 25 to the engine-bed, a wire connection 26 between the generator, and a vibrating induction-coil 27, a wire connection 28 between the coil 27 and the post 10. The induced circuit consists of a wire connection 29 between the coil 27 and the post 11. rl`he primary circuit is completed through the circuit making and breaking block 12, plate 14 or 1G, and wire 29fl and 29" and engine-bed. The induced circuit is completed through the circuit making and breaking block 13 and eitherthe plate 15 or 17 and either leading-in wire 19a or 19".

lVhen the igniting device is set up, the circuit making and breaking blocks 12 and 13 operate between the two pairs of contactplates of the controlling device. The operative position of the circuit making and breaking blocks 12 and 13 is to engage the contactplates of the controllingdevice. If the controlling device comprises two pairs of contact-plates, the blocks 12 and 13 will alternately engage with each pair of plates, as will be evident. If the igniting device is used in connection with a single-cylinder engine, the circuit making and breaking blocks operate below the single pair of contact-plates employed. The cam 2O for adjusting the contact-plates is also employed when the igniter is used in connection with any form of engine. Then the contact-plates are adjusted by the cam 20, it is evident that the interval of non- IOO IIO

contact of the circuit making and breaking blocks will be longer than if the plates were not adjusted. The plates are so adjusted by the cam 20 that when set to their greatest adjustmcnt the circuit making and breaking blocks will not contact with the plates until the crank of the engine has reached dead-center or slightly past the same; but when the plates are lowered, owing to the rotation of the cam, they are engaged by the blocks when the crank of the engine isat dead-center or before it reaches dead-center. Consequently the time of ignition of the explosive mixture will be varied or, in other words, during the operation of the engine the lead thereon can be varied, as occasion requires, by adjusting the contact-plates through the medium of the cam 20. Owing to the adjustability of the contact-plates, when initially starting the engine premature explosion can be prevented, which'willovercome the kicking of the crank of the engine. Thisis evident, as the spark for igniting the explosion can be made when the engine is at dead-contener slightly past the same.

It is thought the many advantages of an igniter for explosive-engines constructed in accordance with the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, can be fully understood, and it will furthermore be evident that changes, variations, andA modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction hereinbefore described, and set forth in the annexed drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come proper] y within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. An electrical igniting device for explosive-enginescomprising a movable contactblock, a pair of yielding contacts cooperating therewith, suitable electrical connections for the vblock and contacts, and means for elevating and lowering said contacts, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge.

2. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines comprising a movable contactblock, a pair of yielding contacts cooperating therewith, suitable electrical connections for said block and contacts, and aeam for elevating and lowering said contacts, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge.

3. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines comprising a movable contactblock, a pair of yielding contacts cooperating therewith, suitable electrical connections for said block and contacts, a cam for elevating and lowering said contacts, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge, operating means for said cam, and an enginelead-indicating scale cooperating with said operating means for the cam.

4. An electrical ignitingdevice for mul tipiccylinder explosive-engines comprising a movlcontacts, a cam for simultaneously elevating and lowering said pairs of contacts, thereby varying the time of ignition ofthe explosiveengine, operating means for said cam, and a lead-indicating scale cooperating with said operating means.

7. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines comprising a sparking plug electrical ly connected with the engine-bed, a con-` tact-plate' electricallyconnected with said plug, 9

a contact-plate electrically connected with the engine-bed, a cam'for adjusting said contacts to vary the time of ignition of the explosive charge, a reciprocatory rod, a pair of circuit making and breaking blocks carried by said rod and adapted to engage said plates, and electrical connections between said blocks and the engine-bed and a source of electrical enrsy- 8. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines comprising a pair of sparking plugs electrically connected with the enginebed, an upper pair of contact-plates, one of said plates electrically connected with said plug and the other of said plates electrically connected with the engine-bed, a lower1 pair of contact-plates, one of said plates of said lower pair of plates electrically connected with the other of said plugs and the other of said plates of said lower pair of plates electrically connected with' the engine-bed, a cam for simultaneously adjusting both pairs of contactplates for varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge, a reciprocatory rod, a pair of circuit making and breaking blocks carried by said rod and adapted to alternately engage said pairs of plates, and electrical connections between said blocks, the engine-bed and a source of electrical energy.

9. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines comprising a sparking plug electrically connected with the engine-bed, a contact-plate electrical lyconnected with said plug, a contact-plate electrically connected with the engine-bed, a cam for adjusting said contacts IOO IIO

to vary the time of ignition of the explosive charge, a reciprocatory rod, a pai r of circuit making and breaking blocks carried by said rod and adapted to engage said plates, electrical connections between said blocks and the engine-bed and a source of electrical energy, a handle for operating said cam, and a leadindicating scale cooperating with said handle.

`10. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines comprising a pair of sparking plugs electrically connected with the enginebed, an upper pair of contact-plates, one of said plates electrically connected with said plug and the otherlof said plates electrically connected with the engine-bed, a lower pair of contact-plates, one of said plates of said lower pairof plates electrically connected with the other of said plugs and the other of said plates of said lower pair of plates electrically connected with the engine-bed, a cam for simultaneously adjusting both pairs of contactplates for varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge, a reciprocatory rod, a pair of circuit makingand breaking blocks carried by said rod and adapted to alternately engage said pairs of plates, electrical connections between said block, the engine-bed and a source of electrical energy, a handle for operating said cam` and a lead-indicating scale coperating with said handle.

11. An electrical igniter for explosive-engines comprising a reciprocating pair of circuit making and breaking blocks moving in unison, a pair of contact-plates arranged in the path of said blocks, and a cam for adjusting said plates toward and away from said blocks, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge.

12. An electrical igniter for explosive-engines comprising a movable circuit making and breaking device, a pair of contact-plates arranged in the path of said device, and a cam for adjusting said plates toward and away from said device, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge.

13. An electrical igniter for explosive-engines comprising a traveling circuit making and breaking device, a pair of contact-plates arranged in the path of said device, and a cam for adjusting said plates toward and away from said device, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge.

14. An electrical igniter for explosive-engines comprising an exteriorly arranged traxf'eling circuit making and breaking device, and an adjustable contact means therefor arranged in the path thereofand adapted to be engaged thereby. said contact means when adjusted adapted to vary the intervals of noncontact of said traveling circuit making and breaking device, thereby varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge, combined with a sparking means and suitable electrical connections between a source oi' electrical energy, said device and engine-bed.

15. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines, comprising traveling terminals, one in the primary circuit and the other in the secondary circuit said terminals moving in unison and each adapted when operated to open and close their respective circuits, contacts therefor and mea ns cooperating with each of said terminals for varying the intervals between the opening and closing of their respective circuits.

16. An electrical igniting device for explosi\f'c-engines comprising apl u ralityof contacts, traveling terminals of a primary and a secondary adapted to engage with said contacts, said terminals traveling in unison, and means for adjusting said contacts to vary the interval ol non-contact between said terminals and said contacts.

17. An electrical igniting device for explosive-engines, comprising a pair of sparking plugs electrically connected with the enginebed, an upper pair of contact-plates, one of said plates electrically connected with said plug and the other of said plates electrically connected with the engine-bed, a lower pair of contact-plates. one of said plates of said lower pair of plates electrically connected with the other ot' said plugs and the other of said plates of said lower pair of plates electrically connected with the engine-bed, acam for simultaneously adjusting both pairs of contact-plates for varying the time of ignition of the explosive charge, and terminals in a primary and a secondary circuit traveling in unison and adapted to alternately engage said pairs of plates.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. HAYDEN. litnessesz FRANCIS W'. LANGsTRoTH, RICHARD M. AnNs'rn'rTnR.

IOO 

